In response to MLS' Strategic Plan, MLS and BiblioTemps® have collaborated on the Pathways to Inclusion: Strategies for Diverse Library Workforce Development. The purpose of this project is to identify ways both MLS (as an employer of library workers i.e. BiblioTemps®) and other employers of library workers can increase the appeal and accessibility of a career in libraries to individuals from underrepresented groups.
We're pleased to be working with CultureAlly, Inc. who will lead us through this important work.
Acknowledgement of Results:
We acknowledge that MLS’ role in the library ecosystem is to share and provide guidance to our membership. We hope this work will help us present this information to our members and stakeholders.
Between November 4th, 2024 and December 30th, 2024
Share your insights and help us identify barriers in the recruitment process to guide our efforts in creating more equitable opportunities in librarianship.
Schedule a 1:1 interview with CultureAlly.
To ensure a comprehensive assessment, we are gathering policies and procedures related to recruitment, hiring, and workplace inclusivity.
If available, please share any relevant policies or guidelines your library has in place.
For example these could include:
This information is crucial in helping us identify best practices, barriers, and areas for improvement, which will allow us to develop tailored DEI strategies that meet the unique needs of our library community. The policies you provide will be reviewed as part of this project and used to inform the creation of resources and future training opportunities for MA Library’s.
As part of our partnership with CultureAlly, we’ll be launching a DEI survey on October 30th to help assess diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the Massachusetts Library Community. Your input is crucial in shaping our DEI strategy, and we encourage full participation.
The survey is anonymous to MLS, and responses will be analyzed by CultureAlly. If you're uncomfortable sharing certain information, you can select ‘Prefer not to disclose.’ Below are the steps taken to balance meaningful feedback with protecting your privacy:
Look out for the survey in your inbox on October 30th and feel free to contact amanda@masslibsystem.org, sarah@masslibsystem.org, or CultureAlly (natashaali@cultureally.com) with any questions.
We are requesting information about your library staff to help us better understand current workforce demographics and trends. Specifically, we are looking for any data you may hold in the following areas:
Demographic information (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender) of current employees
Information on where individuals sit within the organization, including their job titles and departments.
Hiring and recruitment data (number of applicants, offers extended, hires made)
This information is essential for helping us identify trends and gaps in hiring and workforce diversity. It will enable us to tailor our DEI strategies to ensure that careers in libraries are more accessible to individuals from diverse communities and backgrounds. The purpose of this request is not to collect any personal or identifying data and personal identifying information (Name, Dates of Birth, etc.) should be removed before submitting to us.